I can’t believe May’s already here (and it’s almost gone)…but that’s probably because I’ve been traveling non-stop (hence the lack of posts on here recently). The first part of May I galavanted around the Grand Canyon (with a 24-hour pitstop in Las Vegas), followed by a visit to the midwest for my MBA graduation, law school graduation last weekend, and a trip to meet my new guy’s family this coming weekend. PHEW. OH, and I’ve started to study for the bar exam later this summer, so I might not be on here as often as I’d like (but I do have half a dozen posts in the works, I just need to carve out the time to finish them).
So, without further adieu, 2LWithIt’s Ipsy May Review!
THEME: This month’s theme is “Go There,” so think all kinds of travel-inspired beauty tips and adventuring. I’d say this is one of my favorite themes because I love to travel and I think that everyone should, at one point in their lives (or more often if they can), take the time to travel, meet new people, and try something outside of their comfort zone. The first time I did this was at the end of college, I took a solo trip to Europe. I met so many cool people, and because I didn’t have a group of friends to lean on, I relied on myself and realized I was capable of all kinds of things (like navigating public transportation in a foreign language and ordering foods I’ve never been adventurous enough to try at home).
BAG: This is hands-down one of my favorite bags to date. I like everything about it – it’s rounded shape, fake passport stamps, and to boot, it has a metal zipper (which is great for durability; not really a fan of plastic zippahs). The pale yellow color makes the stamps easy to read; the orange interior contrasts quite well, which gives it a fun pop of color.
CONTENTS:
SLMISSGLAM: Sparkle Everyday Glam Beauty Sponge
- I was a little tripped out by this item, because it’s literally the tiniest beauty blender I’ve ever seen. Ipsy says that’s it’s great for creating a “streak-free, airbrushed finish” because it doesn’t absorb a lot of product. While true, because of its size, some people might find it hard to use (I did). It’s also great for blending oils, sunscreens, and moisturizers.
- You can use the tapered tip for hard-to-reach areas like under the eyes and nose (but again, if it’s hard to handle because of its size, I’d recommend a small brush).
- Full-sized this blender retails on the company website for $17.50, but because of its size, I’d say this is a mini blender, valued at half the normal value, so $8.75 (which is generous, because it might even be like a quarter of the full-sized item…).
FIRST AID BEAUTY: Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum
- I’ve tried this serum before and really liked it. My only qualm about this sample is it’s not very big, so you don’t get much to try.
- The hyaluronic acid is what makes this serum great; the lightweight formula leaves skin very soft (A+ as a primer before makeup, because it doesn’t take very long to dry).
- This is sensitive skin-friendly thanks to ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and aloe leaf juice.
- Full-sized this item is 1 oz and retails for $36; this sample is .25oz, so a quarter of the size, retailing an approximate $9.
COMMON LABS: Ggultamin C Real Jel Mask
- YAYYYY, sheet masks. I really like these because they’re much easier to cleanup compared to paint-on masks. The only issue is sizing (if you have a small face, they might not sit right and you’ll have to wrap them around the edges of your cheeks; if you have a large face, the cutouts might not line up to where your eyes, nose, and mouth are). For the most part though, these masks are great if you’ve got a standard-sized face (is that a weird thing to say? Well, I said it!).
- This mask is a bit different from other sheet masks I’ve tried; it has a finger pad to apply after the mask is on. This pad helps remove any dead skin cells and dirt that may linger on your face (think of it like a post-facial scrub).
- The vitamin C and “collagen-boosting/hydrating honey and propolis” will 100% leave your face super silky (aka baby butt soft), which I’m a huge fan of.
- These masks retail for $4 each, and are full-sized; my bag had two masks, so a value of $8.
TRÈSTIQUE: Mini Matte Blur Stick
- This item has the coolest packaging I’ve seen in a while; probably second only to Benefit’s pencil-shaped primers from last year (sold at Sephora, not featured in an Ipsy bag). This blur stick apparently helps reduce the appearance of pores, and you can wear it both on top of makeup or as a primer before you apply it. I didn’t really notice much of a difference, but I also prefer liquid primers instead of stick ones.
- Full-sized this item is $28 comes with blotting paper and is .21 oz; this sample is .04 oz, so a generous estimated retail value of $5.34.
AIR REPAIR SKINCARE: Complexion Quenching Facial Mist
- I’m not really a fan of aerosol facial sprays, but this one is subtle in scent and dainty in size (so great for travel, or on the go as a pick-me-up after the gym).
- With ingredients like aloe vera, calendula, and hyaluronic acid, it’s a super hydrating formula that can double as a toner and a facial mist.
- Full-sized this item is 2 fl oz and retails for $10; this sample is worth a whopping $1.70 (probably the most disappointing Ipsy item I’ve ever received in terms of value).
TOTAL VALUE OF BAG CONTENTS: $32.79
Ugh, where to start? I was so excited about the design of the bag, but when it comes down to the products themselves, this is one of the lowest-valued bags I’ve received to date. I’ll definitely used the face masks and serum, but the mini blender, blur stick, and spray, will probably double as random things I throw in a travel bag because they’re not products I’d use on the daily. Compared to prior months, my May bag was a major bust, but maybe Ipsy’s switching it up and doling out smaller samples at lower price-points? I think the only full-sized items were the face masks…le sigh.
Hopefully next month’s set of samples is better; but on the bright side, at least the bag didn’t suck!
This Ipsy subscription is paid for by 2LWithIt; all thoughts, opinions, and photographs belong to 2LWithIt.
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